Honda recalls select Accords and HR-Vs over missing piece in seat belt pretensioners

NEW YORK — Honda is recalling select 2023-2024 Accord and HR-V vehicles due to a missing component in the front seat belt pretensioners, which could increase the risk of injury during a crash.

According to notices released earlier this week by Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the seat belt pretensioners – which hold seat belts in place during a crash – may be missing the rivet that retains the quick release and wire plate. This means passengers may not be properly restrained in the event of an accident, regulators said.

The NHTSA attributed the problem to an error during assembly. More than 300,000 agreements and HR-Vs may be affected.

As of Nov. 16, Honda had received seven warranty claims but no reports of injuries or deaths caused by defective seat belt pretensioners, according to documents published by the NHTSA.

For consumers affected by this recall, dealers will inspect all vehicles and, if necessary, replace the seat belt pretensioner at no charge. Those who have already paid for these repairs at their own expense may also be eligible for a refund.

Honda estimates that less than 1% of potentially affected vehicles will require replacement. The vast majority are expected to be satisfied with just an inspection, a Honda spokesman told The Associated Press on Saturday.

From January 8, 2024, notification letters will be sent by post to the registered owners of the affected vehicles. Replacement parts should be available to dealers by the end of the month, the spokesperson said, but consumers can go to an authorized Honda dealer for repairs. inspection now.

For more information about the recall, consumers can visit NHTSA’s website and Honda’s and online recall pages.

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This story corrects references to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.